CANTON, Ill. – A two-year-old Canton girl has been found safe, nearly ten hours after she was reported missing.
Canton Police Chief Mike Eveland says Chloe Russell was found in an upstairs bedroom of her house. She was examined at a hospital as a precaution and was released to guardians.
Canton police were called to the house just before 8 a.m. Thursday on a report of a missing girl.
Officers expanded their search after they arrived to include the surrounding neighborhood. The Canton Fire Department used thermal imaging cameras to search the house a second time with no result.
Outside agencies were then called to the scene including the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Fulton County ESDA, State Police, the FBI, Peoria, Tazewell and McLean County Search and Rescue, the Farmington Police and Fire Departments, Western Illinois University GIS Team and the Salvation Army.
The search included the use of drones, airplanes and K-9’s. Area residents also made an unofficial search effort via social media posts and word of mouth.
Eveland said in a Facebook post as early evening approached, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Technicians searched the residence once more as a preliminary step in processing the scene for further leads when Chloe was found in an upstairs closet.
Eveland said the girl’s family cooperated with all the involved agencies during the search process.
An investigation continues but Eveland said, “At this point, there is no evidence of criminal activity on anyone’s behalf.”
“The main thing is that Chloe was found safely and is in good health,” Eveland said.
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